Surface condenser



0 T G N I H T R 0 W C C 5 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

. SURFACE GONDENSBR. N o. 44 7,3 96.

Patented Mar. 3

(No Model.)

- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. GgO. WORTHINGTON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Patented Mar. 3,1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. G.- 0. WORTHINGTON. SURFACE CONDENSER.

No. 447,39 Patented Mar. 3-, 1891.

r ll

. /zigfir n md (No Model.)

5 SheetsSheet '4. 0. C. WORTHINGTON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Patented Mar. 3,1891.

(No Model.).'

- '5 Sheets-Sheet 5. G. O. WORTHINGTON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

No. 447,396. Patented Mar. '3, 1-891.

l ll iiiiiiiiiiii .UNITED STATE PA ENT OFFICE.

Cll XRLES C. W'ORTHINGT ON, OF IRVINGTON, NEW YORK.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ,Patent llo. 447,396, dated March 3, 1891. Application filed June 24, 1890. Serial No. 356,535. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. WORTH- INGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irvington, county of \Vestchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Surface Condensers, fully described and represented in the following specification. and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

his invention relates to surface condensers, its object being to provide a condenser of this kind in which the degree of the vacuum I and the temperature of the water of-condensation may be adjustable independently of the amount or temperature of the cooling-water or other cooling medium passed through the condenser Y The usual method of condensation in that class of engines with which surface condensers are employed is well known and need not be particularly described herein, it being understood that the exhaust-steam, being led by the exhaust-pipe of the engine to one end or side of the condenser, is condensed therein, and the water of condensation, together with air and uncondensable vapor, is drawn off from the other end or'side of the condenser byan air-pump, and is passed to the hot-well,

from which the boiler is fed.

The form of surface-condenser in general use consists of a series of pipes connected at their ends by steam-tight heads, the whole being inclosed in a casing. The steam may be passed through the pipes and cold water forced through the casing, or vice versa, as de sired. This fol-mot condenser is modified in many ways, the principle, however, remaining the same, by which a supply of cold water passed through the condenser cools the surface with which the exhaust-steam from the engine is brought in contact and condensed.

While my improved condenser is of general application to condensing-engines of the class described, it is of especial value as apb and will, be'described as applied thereto.

In condensing engines in which, as de scribed, the water of condensation is pumped to a hot-well to supply the boiler it is necessary that the condensation should be-so adproduction of plied to pumpin -engines of this same class, p

be as high as possible consistently with the I the necessary vacuum. Byea more complete condensation a'better vacuum may be obtained; water of condensation will be correspondingly twenty-six to twenty-- uum of'not more than to a slightextent in seven inches, varying vary the amount of water passing through the main in accordance with the requirement of the condenser, and systems in which the condenser forms a part of the main and reter, and in which the water of condensation passes to the boiler without reheating, have failed to give the best results, especially as the relation of the water pumped to the steam gines, depending uponthe pressure in the force main and the amount and temperature therefore, to. provide pumpingh either an independent water-f for the condenserby which customary, engines wi' circulating system the amou ntot water passing ter may be adjusted amount of water passing through the main or with means for reheatingthe water of condensation. This necessitates either another and independentp'ump or asystem of valves and pipes to deflecta portion of the main, water through the condenser. feet adjustment of the condensation while ermitting all through the condenser and avoiding the use heater by providing a condenser in which the sired.

5 7 justed that the temperature of the water delivered to the hot-well by the air-pump should For a full understandingof my invention of the water pumped. It has heretoforebeen I secure aperbut the temperature of the I lowered, and experience has shown that a vac+ different engines and under difilfere'n't conditions in the same engine,

results in the greatest economy. It is necessary, therefore, that? off from the condenser may be adjusted, and

v '70 In pumping-engines it is impracticable to ceives all the water passing through thelatr expended varies greatly in this class of enthrough the latindependently of the the water of the main .to pass of any independent circulating system or recondensing-surface with which the steam is broughtin contact may be adjusted as dea description of various forms of condenser embodying my invention will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a surface condenser applied to a duplex pumping-engine of thecommon class. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the condenser in detail. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal' section of another form of my improved condenser. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a central section of one end of a condenser, showing another means for adjusting the condensing-surface. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show condensers arranged reversely to those of the preceding figures, the water passing through the tubes and the steam through the casing about the tubes. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of a vertical condenser. Fig.

8 is a central longitudinalsection on the line 8 8 of Fig. 9, showing a horizontal condenser:

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a condenser in which the condensing-surface is reduced by closing some of the condensing-pipes mechanically; and Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 11 11ofFig.l0.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the condenser is formed of a series of pipes B, which are connected at their ends by means of steamtight heads 0, the pipes and heads beingsurrounded by a casing A, forming the outside of the condenser, all as is common in this class of construction. The casing of the condenser is provided at each side with a port by which the main D communicates with the condenser, the water of the main thus passing through the latter. In these figures the condenser is shown asconstruct-ed to be placed upon the suction-main of a duplex engine, the upper side of the condenser being provided with two parts, communicating, respectively, with the branch mainfor the two sides of the engine. It will be'understood, however, that the con denser may be applied to a pumping-engine of any other class and to either the suction or force main. as desired.

At one end, outside the head 0, the condenser is provided with a steam-chamber E, communicating with the steam-exhaust pip'e F and with the tubes B, and at its other end with a discharge-chamber G, which isdivided into two parts by means of the partition H, which extends from the base of the condenser upward to any desired point opposite the tubes B: This partitior. H divides the discharge-chamber G into an inner and an outer chamber, the former communicating with the pipes Band The latter with the dischargepipe K, through which the water of condensation and theair are drawn from the condenser by the air-pump and led to the hot-well. The partition H is provided with a series of ports a, of different heights above the base of the condenser, these ports being controlled by valves b. It is evident that by opening the lowest port a all the water of condensation will pass from the inner discharge-chamber G and the pipes B, and the entire series of pipes will be used to conduet'the steam from the exhaust F to the discharge-chamber G, the surface 9f the entire series of pipes thus forming the condensing-surface for the steam. By closing the lowest port a and opening anyone of the upper ports-for instance, the second port, as show'nthe level of the water of condensationwithin the inner discharge-chamher, the pi es B, and the steam-chamber E, as shown by the line \V, will be raised correspondingly, and this level may be adjusted to any point desired, the adjustment being limited only by the number of ports in the partition H. As the level of the water of condensation about the condensing-surface is thus raised, the steam will pass through fewer of the pipes B, and the condensing-surface will therefore be decreased and the temperature of the water of condensation correspondingly raised. By this means an accurate adj ustment of the condensation may be secured, so that the vacuum produced and the temperature of the water of condensation shall bear to each other that relation that results inthegreatest economy of the engine.

In Figs. 4.- and 5 is shown another means for varying the extent of the condensing-surface, the general construction of the condenser being the same as that of the condensers previously described. In the construction shown. in these figures, however, the discharge-chamber G at the end of the cylinder is entered near the base of the condenser by a pipe L, which comm unicates with the discharge-pipe, and when in its vertical position extends nearly-to the top of the discharge-chamber, the partition H of Fig. 3 being omitted. This pipe is pivotally mounted, so as to be adapted to be swung from a vertical to a horizontal or any intermediate position, as indicated in Fig. 5, its central posi tion being shown by full lines. The swinging pipe L may be mounted in any suitable manner, and the operating means may be of any form. I have shown a simple and convenient construction, in which the pipe L connects with the pipe K by means of a collar 0, set into the casing of the dischargcchamber and flanged'inward inside the chamher to hold an outward flange on a sleeve (Z, to which the swinging the sleeve d is secured a rod 6, which passes through the wall of the discharge-pipeoutside the chamber, and is provided with a handle f, by which the sleeve and its attached pipe L may be rotated through a partial circle. A packing g will preferably be inserted between the sleeve (1 and the end of the pipe K. 1 i

In Fig. 6 is shown a construction similar to that of Figs. 4 and 5, except that the pipe L pipe is attached. "o

is arranged to slide vertically through the base-wall of the discharge-chamber and opens below into a chamber M, which forms an enlargement of the discharge-pipe K. The pipe is adjusted by means of the screw h, provided with a handle 2 this adjusting construction being the same as shown in detail in Figs. 8

and 9. It is evident that by this construc-' tion of a swinging or sliding discharge-pipe a greater range of adjustment is secured than by the means shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and that the swinging pipe especially permits a very quick adjustment. I In Figs. '7, 8, and Qare illustrated forms of r 5 condensers in which the main connects directly with the pipes, the water passing through the latter and the steam through the casing surrounding the pipes, this being a common reversal of the construction previously described. In the condenser shown in .Fig. 7 the level of the water of condensation inside the casing A and about the condensing-surface is adjusted by means of a series of cocks b at different levels, communicating with the-inside of the casing and with the discharge-pipe K. In Figs. 8 and 9 the construction is similarto that of Fig. 6, except that the sliding dischargemipelr enters the casing instead of a discharge-chamber at the end of the condenser. For the purpose of adjustment the base of the pipe'Lis threaded upon the screw h, which is provided with the handle 11 and mounted in the lower wall of chamber M. The pipe L enters the chamber M, which forms an enlargement of pipe K and communicates therewith by ports I.

In all the constructions described the circulation in the body of water of condensation retained in the condenser .will be very slow, the heated water on top being of lower specific gravity than that below, and thus the water that falls into it from the exposed condensing-tubes remainson top-and the hotwell is supplied from this upper warmer stratum-without disturbing the lower strata. I thus secure a high temperature of the feedwater, althoughretainingabody of the water of condensation within the condenser.

\Vhile I prefer to adjust the condensingsurface by varying the level of the water of condensation it is devices may' be used by which the condensing-surface shall be varied directly. A simple and convenient" construction of this class is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in which the rod m passes through the steam-chamber E, and is provided outside the chamber with a handle 1i, the rod being suitably packed where it passes through the wall of the chamber. This rod m is screw-threaded inside the chamber and by its rotation'raises or lowers a gate 0, which is constructed to fit closely over the ends of the pipe B, and thus closes a greater or less number of them according to its position. In the construction shown with a cylindrical condenser, the gate is of a segmental form and the steam-chamber is provided with also, tl'.atthe means of evident that mechanical' a pocket 19, receiving the lower: side of the gate, and in which the entire gate may be held whenall the pipes B are to be used. This construction is equally applicable in cases in which the pipes B form part of the 1nain,"and the steam-exhaust connects with eration described. In this case the same amount of water flows through the condenser structed that the total capacity of the pipes will exceed that of the main. Where some of the pipes are closed by the gate the water" passes through those left open, and the closed condensing-surface until reopened. In either case, whet-her the steam or water passes through the pipes B, it is therefore apparent that the movement of the gate 0 by opening efi'ective condensing-surfaces.

While I have shown a condenser formed of a series of pipes surrounded by a casing, my invention is not to be limited to any special form of surface condenser, that shown being but one of the ordinary forms, and selected as that found most convenient for use and as best illustrating my invention. Itis evident, adjustment may be varied widely without departing from my in- -.vention.

' What I claim is- 1. A surface condenser having an adjustable condensing-surface, substantially as described.

2. Asurface condenserprovided with ineans for varying the extent of condensing-surface exposed to the steam in its passage through the condenser, substantially as described.

3. A surface condenser provided with means for varying the extent of surface exposed to the steam in its passage through the condenser, substantially as described.

4. A surface condenser provided with means for varying'the amount of water of condensation remaining in the condenser and about the condensing-surface during its operation,

- substantially as described.

5. A surfacecondenser provided with means forvaryingthelevel of the water of condensation remaining within the condenser and about the condensing-surface during its operation, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a surface condenser, of a discharge-pipe for the water of of the -discharge-port, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a surface condenser, of a movable discharge-pipe entering the condenser or discharge-chamber, and means for adjusting the position of the discharge-pipe to vary the level of the dischargeport, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a surface condenser, of a discharge-pipe extending into the condenser or discharge-chamber and pivotthe body of the condenser, reversing the op- I pipes are not cooled and form no part of the or closing the pipes increases or decreases the at all times, the condenser being so concondensation and means for varying the level through which the water of the main passes, the steam-exhaust entering said condenser, 15

a discharge-pipe for connection to the airpump, and means for adjusting the level of the discharge-port, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 20 witnesses.

CHAS. C. W'ORTHINGTON "Witnesses:

B. W. PIERSON, LOUIS R. ALBERGER. 

